7 October 2013

Statement by Mr. Hossein Gharibi Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran

On behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement before

The Sixth Committee of the

68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

on “Measures to eliminate international terrorism” (Agenda item 110)

New York, 7 October 2013

In the Name of God The Compassionate, The Merciful

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Non-Aligned Movement unequivocally condemns, as criminal, and rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as all acts, methods and practices of terrorism wherever, by whomever, against whomsoever committed, including those in which States are directly or indirectly involved, which are unjustifiable whatever the considerations or factors that may be invoked to justify them, and in this context, NAM members reaffirm their support for the provisions contained in General Assembly resolution 46/51 of 9 December 1991 and other relevant United Nations resolutions.

The Non-Aligned Movement reaffirms that terrorist acts constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, in particular the right to life, leading to the lack of the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples. Such acts endanger the territorial integrity and stability of States as well as national, regional and international security, destabilise legitimately constituted governments or the prevailing constitutional order and political unity of States, affect the stability of nations and the very basis of societies, create adverse consequences on the economic and social development and cause the destruction of the physical and economic infrastructure of States.

Terrorism should not be equated with the legitimate struggle of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation, for self-determination and national liberation. The brutalisation of peoples remaining under foreign occupation should continue to be denounced as the gravest form of terrorism, and the use of State power for the suppression and violence against peoples struggling against foreign occupation in exercising their inalienable right to self-determination should continue to be condemned. The Movement reaffirms its principled position under international law and in accordance with General Assembly resolution 46/51 of 9 December 1991 as well as other relevant UN resolutions on the legitimacy of the struggles of people under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation for national liberation and self-determination.

Furthermore, terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group, and these attributions should not be used to justify terrorism or counter-terrorism measures that include, inter alia, profiling of terror suspects and intrusion on individual privacy.

Mr. Chairman,

Conscious of the need to take speedy and effective measures to eliminate international terrorism, the Movement urges all States, consistent with the UN Charter, to fulfil their obligations under international law and international humanitarian law in combating terrorism, including by prosecuting or, where appropriate, extraditing the perpetrators of terrorist acts; by preventing the organisation, instigation or financing of terrorist acts against other States from within or outside their territories or by organisations based in their territories; by refraining from organising, instigating, assisting, financing or participating in terrorist acts in the territories of other States; by refraining from encouraging activities within their territories directed towards the commission of such acts; by refraining from allowing the use of their territories for planning, training or financing for such acts; or by refraining from supplying arms or other weapons that could be used for terrorist acts in other States.

The Non-Aligned Movement rejects actions and measures, the use or threat of use of force, imposed or threatened to be imposed by any State against any Non-Aligned Member Country under the pretext of combating terrorism or to pursue its political aims, including by directly or indirectly categorising them as terrorism sponsoring-States, as well as the unilateral preparation of lists accusing States of allegedly supporting terrorism, which are inconsistent with international law.

The Non-Aligned Movement calls upon all States to condemn any form of, and refrain from extending, political, diplomatic, moral or material support for terrorism, and urges all States, consistent with the UN Charter and in fulfilling their obligations under international law, to ensure that refugee status or any other legal status is not abused by the perpetrators, organisers or facilitators of terrorist acts and that claims of political motivation by them are not recognised as grounds for refusing requests for their extradition.

The Non-Aligned Movement also encourages all States, which have not yet done so, to consider ratifying or acceding to the thirteen international instruments relating to combating terrorism. We also call upon all States to observe and implement the provisions of all international instruments as well as regional and bilateral instruments relating to terrorism to which they are party.

The Movement also calls upon all States to respect all human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, and to reaffirm their commitment in this respect to prevent human rights violations in consistency with the rule of law and their obligation under international law, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, and in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions. We call upon the Security Council sanction committees to further streamline their listing and delisting procedures to address the concerns of due process and transparency.

The Non-Aligned Movement reiterates its call for an International Summit Conference under the auspices of the UN to formulate a joint organised response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including identifying its root causes.

We further reiterate the importance of the conclusion of a Comprehensive Convention for Combating International Terrorism, noting the negotiations in the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly Resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996, for elaboration of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and the continuing efforts to that end, and we call upon all States to cooperate in resolving the outstanding issues.

The Movement reaffirms the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy as well as the Member States’ primary responsibility to implement it and welcomes the Strategy’s reviews, and calls for its transparent and comprehensive implementation. We will also actively participate in the upcoming negotiations of the fourth review of the Strategy in 2014.

The Non-Aligned Movement recalls the General Assembly resolution 66/10 of 18 November 2011 on the establishment of the United Nations Centre for Counter-Terrorism and encourages all Member States to collaborate with the Centre and to contribute to the implementation of its activities in accordance with the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

The Non-Aligned Movement strongly condemns criminal incidences of hostage-taking with resultant demands for ransoms and/or other political concessions by terrorist groups, and calls upon all States to cooperate actively in order to address this issue, including its legal aspects.